A Richmond County man has been entangled with the law after being charged with insurance fraud related to his actions as a notary.

Joseph Eric Altman, 52, found himself facing a felony charge after North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced his arrest on Tuesday.

Altman is accused of falsely verifying an insurance form, a fraud case brought to light by diligent efforts from the NC Department of Insurance's Criminal Investigations Division in conjunction with the N.C. Secretary of State’s Office, as announced on the NC DOI website . The alleged incident, took place on August 20, 2024, and brings to the forefront the hidden costs of white-collar crimes which ultimately, hit consumers' finances.

Upon his arrest, Altman secured his release on a $10,000 unsecured bond and is scheduled to appear in Richmond County District Court on Tuesday.

"Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet," Commissioner Causey stated, highlighting the pervasive impact of such fraudulent activities, as per the NC DOI .

Echoing the sentiments of Commissioner Causey, the NC DOI encourages the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicions of insurance fraud or other related white-collar crimes. They assert that nearly "20 cents of every insurance premium dollar goes to covering the cost of fraud."